Load binder



Aug. 26, 1952 "r. H. EDELBLUTE LOAD BINDER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 15, 1948 INVENTOR. THOMAS H.EDELBLUTE.

ATTORNEYS A g- 2 T. H. EDELBLUTE 2,608,333

LOAD BINDER Filed June 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. F THOMAS H.EDELBLL)TE.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOAD BINDER Thomas H. Edelblute, Reynoldsville, Pa. Application June 15, 1948, Serial No. 33,059

2 Claims. (01. 254-454 This invention relates to a load'binder of the type employed to apply a pulling force to the ends of a chain or the like which is used to bind a load such as lumber in position, for example, while being transported.

In the transportation of material such as lumber which is likely to shift or settle in transit, it is customary to bind the material to the transporting conveyance with a chain. To impart tension or a binding force to the-ends of the binding chain, load binders are commonly employed. Such devices, in general, consist of mechanism operable to pull the ends or parts of the chain toward each other to take up slack and create a binding force for holding the load securely in position. To take up slack due to'settling of the load without releasing the binding tension on the chain and to prevent breakage of the chain where the load is subjected to shock, springs have been employed for the purpose of yieldingly sustaining the tension on'the load binding chain. However, the arrangements heretofore proposed have involved the location of thesprings either in the binding chain or on the load binder in a position where they are subjected to rough usage and damage of anature likely to result in their disconnection or breakage. In addition, conventional load binders" have presented objectionable features in that by reason of the rough usage to which they are subjected, they are apt to get out of order and in need of repair, and due to complexity of construction, the necessary repairs are made at best with extreme difiiculty.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an improved load binder which is simple in design, is easily disassembled for purposes of repair, is ruggedly constructed so that it is capable of withstanding rough usage, and has built-in resilient features for yieldingly sustaining the tensionl'on' a load binder chain with which it is associated- To this end, there is provided a frame or: housing member which completes the connection of thebinder to the ends of a bindingchain.., One connection toone end of the chain comprises. a compressible spiral spring which, is housed and'protected by the frame. The spring is compressed when the binder applies force to the, binding chain and will expand when the load settles, thereby maintaining the desired tension on the binding chain, and will compensate forforces created bysubjection of the load to shock. thereby preventing breakage of the binding chain. The other connection to the other end of the binding chain comprises a pull chain assembly in the nature of a sprocket chain which is trained over a sprocket wheel mounted on a shaft carried in the frame. The mechanism for impartingrotation to the sprocket wheel to exert abinding force includes a mann ally operable lever pivoted to the shaft carrying the sprocket wheel. and ratchet mechanism for ratchet teeth.

rendering the lever operable to impart rotation to the sprocket wheel. The housing frame is so arranged that it completely houses and protects both of the connections to the binding chain.

A further object of this invention is to provide a load binder with an improved arrangement of parts for training and stripping a sprocket chain with respect to a sprocket wheel. 1

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of ratchet and operating-mechanism for controlling the operation of a sprocket wheel employed to impart forces to the ends of a binding chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism comprising a pawl which is mounted for rectilinear movement into operative engagement with the ratchet teeth of a ratchet wheel, the pawl and ratchet teeth having abutting surfaces located in a plane inclined with respect to a radius of the ratchet wheel, the angle of inclination being in suchdirectionas to produce a component force which is applied to the pawl in a direction tending to maintain the pawl in engagement with the Stillanother object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of operating mechanism for a load binder in which all of the force-exerting parts may be removed from the housing therefor upon removal of a single locking pin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent from the following description.

In the drawing there is shown a preferred embodiment of the'invention. In this showing: l Figure 1 is a plan view 'of a load binder constructed in accordance with the principles'iof this invention and in which a portion of the operating handle therefor is illustrated as being broken away;

Figure 2 is'an elevational view of the load binder shown in Figure 1, certain ofthe parts being omitted; Figure .3 is a fragmen-tarysectional .view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure l; Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line IVIV of Figure 1i Figure @5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the ratchet wheel and pawls similar to that of Figure 4 illustrating the operating pawl and looking pawl in their operative positions with respect to the ratchet wheel;

Figure 6 isa longitudinal sectional view of a modified operating mechanism for, controlling the operation of the locking pawl; and t Figure 7 is an end elevational view looking from the left of Figure 6.

Referring ,toFigure 1 of the drawings, the numeral l designates as a whole a load binder pre video! with grab hooks2 and 3 which provide, ref

' the shaft 2! in position with respect spectively, connections by which the binder may be secured in position to impart a binding force to a binding chain. The connectionsof the grab hooks 2 and 3 are made in conventional fashion to a binding chain or the like so as to be effective to remove slack therefrom, and apply a tightening force thereto. The binder I includes a frame t which functions to house and protect the operating parts of the binder, and which further functions to complete a mechanical connection to the grab hooks 2 and 3 in a manner to be described.

The frame 3 is rigidly constructed and is preferably formed of malleable iron or cast steel. Theframe A comprises side wallsi and 5 connected together in spaced relation by end walls 1 and 8. The end walls land 8 are provided with openings fl and lfi axially aligned longitudinally of the frame 4 and throughwhich the connection to the grab hooks 2 and 3 are made so that a binding force created by the binder I will be applied in a straight line to the grab hooks Z and 3. v

The connectionoi the grab 1100?. 2 to the frame 4 comprises a swivel connection l l including. an eye-bolt 12 having a shank [3 extending inwardly through the opening 9 in the end wall and turnable therein. A nut [4, with a suitable washer, is threaded onthe inner end of the shank l3 and a spiral spring I5 is positioned between the washer and the inner surface of the endwall 'i', the endsof the spring 15 bear against the inner surface of the end wall I and the Washer positioned against the cut Hi. When the binder applies a force tending tomove' the grab hooks .2 and 3 toward .each other-{the shank 13 will move outwardly through the opening 9 and partly compress the spring t5. The compression of the spring i5 will operate to yieldingly maintain the tension on the binding chain when the load to which it is applied settles into position. In addition, the spring 85 will compensate for shock applied to a load held by a binding chain, and will beeffective to reapply the binding force after the shock has passed without breaking the binding chain. From Figures land 2 it will be noted that the frame 4 completely houses and protects the spring l5 in such manner that rough usage will be incapable of damaging or disconnecting the spring 15. I prefer to utilizeja spring of such strength that it will not be fully compressed by the usual stresses to which it is subjected. by the binder.

The connection of the grab hook 3 to the frame 5 includes a swivel connector 16 which is secured to an end of a sprocketchain l| whichextends inwardly throughthe opening it in the end wall 8, and is trained over sprocket wheel H3. The sprocket wheel 18 is formed integrally on an annulus 59 which also carries a' ratchet wheel 20 integral therewith. The annulus I9 is journaledon ashait 2| which extends transversely of and through the side walls 5 and 6 and has its ends respectively supported in such side walls.

By reason of the fact that the sprocket wheel l8 and ratchet wheel 28 are formed integrally with the common annulus IS, the annulus and the wheels will rotate as a unit. A tapered dowel pin 22 is employed for the purpose of securing to the frame 4.

. As best shown in Figures? and 3, the active portion of the sprocket chain ll' extends through the opening It} in a direction so as to engage tangentially with the sprocket wheel it. When 4 the chain I1 is initially applied to the wheel l 3, its free'end 23 is directed downwardly into engagement with a training lug 24. The training lug 24 operates to maintain the chain IT in engagement with the sprockets on the wheel it as illustrated in Figure 3. As the sprocket wheel l8 rotates, it will carry the chain ll around the shaft 2!, until the links of the chain engage with the surfaces 25 on stripping lug 26 in the event that such links have not become disengagedfrcm the cogs as illustrated. As the motion of the chain links is continued, the surface 25 will operate to strip the chain links out cf engagement with the cogs on the sprocket wheel 1-8. As best shown in Figure l, a pair of stripping lugs gfi are provided in the frame 3, such lugs being arranged to straddle the cogs on the sprocketwheel it. As shown in Figure 3, the arrangement of the training lugs 2:2- and stripping lugs 22; is such that the chain ii is maintained in engagement with approximately 180 of the sprocket wheel H3 at all times.

Attention is particularly invited to the fact that the openings 9 and H] are in direct alignment with the portion of the chain ll moving into enge'gement with the sprocket wheel is and that thelbol't shank l3 extends axially along the line'oi the openings .9' and It. In this manner the forces applied.- to the grab hooks 2 and 3 are applied in a straight line and are effectively transmitted through the structure of the frame' l.

In order to rotate the sprocket wheel ill, a handle yoke or operating lever, 21' is provided for applying torque to the ratchet wheel 29. As best shown in Fi'g'u're'fl', the lever 21 is bifurcated to provide fork arms 28 and 29. The arms 28 and 25% straddle the sprocket wheel 18 and the ratchet wheelZt and have their ends journaled on the shaft 2! .at points adjacent the side walls 5 and 6'. The body ofthe lever 21 is provided with a cylindrical, opening for the reception of a cylindrical operating pawl 30 which is movable axially and rectilinearly into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 28. A spring 3| urges the pawl 36 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 20. The pawl 3!] has an extension 32 which is connected to one. endof a wire rod 33 having its other end hooked to an arm 3 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 35 to the handle ill. The other arm 36 of the bell crank lever may be moved manually to move the pawl Stout. of engagement with the ratchet wheel 28 against the bias .of the spring 3|. 7 Referring to Figure 2,,itv willbegno'ted that the pawl 30 will be cammed away from the ratchet wheel 29 against theaction. of the spring 3| by the action of the ratchet teeth/s1. against the end of, the pawl 33 upon movement of .the lever 2! in a clockwise dire'ction. When. the lever 2! has moved sufficiently for the pawl to pass over one of the ratchet teeth 3?, the pawl 30'wi1l engage with the next succeeding ratchettooth', and upon movement of- To'lo'ck ther'atchet wheel 2!: against movement in 'aclockwise direction, a cylindrical locking pawl st is mounted for axial and rectilinear movement in a cylindrical opening formed in the housing 4. A spiral spring 39 urges the pawl38 into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 20. The pawl 38 is provided with an extension 40 which is connected to a grasp 4| by which the pawl 38 may be moved manually against the action of its spring out of operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 20. The ring grasp 4|, when the pawl 38 is in operative engagement with ratchet wheel 20, is received in a slot 4la which ring sliding in the slot acts as a guide to keep the holding surface of the end of the pawl in proper alignment for engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. When it is desired to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, the grasp is moved tocompress the spring 39 and the ring is then turned so that it may rest on the end Nb of the housing. When the lever 21 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction to impart rotation to the ratchet wheel 20, the pawl 38 will be cammed to the left by a ratchet tooth 31, and when the ratchet wheel 28 moves suf. ficiently far, the pawl 38 willbe urgedby the action of spring 39, to the position shown in Figure 2, in which the pawl will again be operative to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel 20 in a clockwise direction. v

As best shown in Figure 5, the pawls 30 and 38 are provided with inclined surfaces 42 and 43, respectively, for engagement with cooperating surfaces 44 on the ratchet teeth 31. The surfaces 42 and 43 and the ratchet teeth surfaces 44 are so arranged that when they are in operative abutting engagement, a component force will be produced, tending to move the pawl toward the center of the ratchet wheel 20. This structure and its action will be best understood by referring to the enlarged showing of Figure 5 in which the ratchet wheel 20 is illustrated in connection with the lever pawl 38 and the locking pawl 38. In this showing, it will be noted that the pawl engaging surfaces 44 on the ratchet teeth 31 are in planes parallel to and spaced from a diameter of the shaft 2! on which the ratchet wheel 20 is mounted. It will also be noted that the horizontal center-lines of thepawls 30 and 38 are above the center of the ratchet wheel 20. The offset relation of the pawl center-lines and ratchet wheel center is desired in order to secure a lockingaction betweenthese parts. In this manner the surfaces 44, are angularly inclined with respect to any radius of the ratchetwheel 28 which may be drawn to intersect such surfaces. These surfaces are inclined in the directionin which a load on the chain [1 tends to rotate the ratchet wheel 20. By reason of this angular inclination, when the surfaces 44 are in engagement with the inclined pawl surfaces 42 and 43, there will be produced a componentof force on thepawls so engaged which will assist the action of their biasing springs and will be effective to lock the pawl in operative engagement with the ratchet wheel. This action is very effective in preventing movement of the pawl out of operative engagement with the ratchet wheel. The greater the load or tension on the hooks 2 and 3, the forces transmitted are such that they tendto lock in engagement the pawl 38 to ratchet tooth 3'! more securely, preventing them from becoming disengaged under any operating conditions. This is of very great importance both as a safety measure The pawls and 38 are or identical construction and of equal length so that the same pawl may be used as an operating pawl on the lever 21 or as a locking pawl on the frame 4. In mounting the pawls, as shown inFigures 4 and 5, it will be noted that the pawl 30 is positioned so that its ratchet engagingsu'rface 42 faces in an upward direction, and the pawl 38 is positioned so thatits ratchet engaging surface 43 faces in an upward direction. The positioning of the pawls in this manner provides a phase reversal necessary by reasonof the location of the pawls 38 and 38 on diametrically opposite sides of ratchet wheel 20. The pawl 38 functions as a locking pawl and the engagement of its surface 43 with a ratchet tooth surface 44is effective to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel 28 in a counter-clockwise direction. The pawl 38 functions as an operating pawl and the engagement of its surface 42 with a ratchet tooth surface 44 is effective to impart rotation to the wheel 2|] upon rotation of the lever 21 carrying the pawl 30 in a clockwise direction. v

In the showings of Figures 2 and 4, the pawl surfaces 42 and 43 are illustrated as beingout of engagement with the ratchet teeth surfaces 44in order to more clearly illustrate the structure of the parts respectively carrying such surfaces.

The action and operation of the pawls 30 and 38 will be best understood by referring to the enlarged showing of Figureh, In this showing, the pawl 38 isshown in the position it occupies when it is effective to preventrotation of the wheel 20, and the pawl 38 isshown in the position it occupies when it is effective to V impart rotation to the wheel 20. ln these positions it will be noted that the surfaces 42 and 43 are in abutting engagement withratchet tooth surfaces 44. As the lever 21 is moved in a clockwise direction to move the pawl 30 from the posi tion shown in full linesto a position indicated by the dottedlines in Figures 5, the surface 45 will operate to cam the pawl 30 outwardly against the action of its biasing spring 3|. When. the lever 21 has moved sufficiently far, the bias on the pawl 30 will be effective to, move the cam inwardly intoengagement with the next succeeding surface 45 so that subsequent rotation ofthe.

lever 21 in a counterclockwise direction will be effective to engage the pawl surface 42 with another ratchet surface 44 and to impart rotation to the wheel 20. As the wheel .20 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the surface 45 in engagement with the pawl 38 will cam the pawl 38 outwardly until a ratchet tooth moves out of engagement with such surface whereupon the pawl 38 will move inwardly until it is stopped by another surface 45 and be again effective to prevent rotationof the ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction. It will thus'beseen that the pawl 38 isoperative to prevent all clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 28 except that necessary to engage the surfaces 43 and 44 Figures 6 and 7 illustrateamodified construction for operating :the pawlswhich may be used to withdraw the pawls againstwthe action of their biasing springs. Figures 6 and 7 show the application of the modification ,to the locking pawl 38. In thisshowing,;,the extension is provided with an opening at its end forthereception of a pin 46 which, projects outwardly through a slot 41 formed in the housing 4. In

normal operation, engagement of the pin 46 with the sides of the slot will function toguide. the

rectilinear andaxial movement'of the pawl to which it is connected and toprevent rotation ofthe pawl during such movement. When it is desired to move the pawl to an inoperative position with resp'cct to the ratchetwheel 20, it is merely necessary to grasp-the pin '48 and move it manually to the left,- as viewed in Figure 6, and rotate it to a position out of alignment with the slot 41 as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure '7; In this position, the pin willengage with the end 48 of the housing 4 and beprevented from movement by its biasing spring to an operative position with respect tothe ratchet wheel 23.

, From the foregoing, it will be noted that the frame 4 operatesto provide a housing for all of the operating parts of t-he binder. Attention is particularly invited to the fact that the operating parts maybe readily-removed by removal of the locking pin 22. Removal of the locking pin 22 will permit the shaft 2i to be moved out of engagement with the forked arms 28 and 29 of the operating lever 21, and out of engagement with the annulus l9 carrying the sprocket wheel 18 and the ratchet wheel 20. This will enable the sprocket wheel. ratchet wheel, chain and handle to be disassembled.

The manual adjustment provided by the parts 36 and 4! enables the pawls 30 and '33 to be withdrawn from operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 20, which then may be manually adjusted to position the sprocket chain ll. It will also be noted that when the annulus i9 is disassembled as described above, the pawls 3i! and 38 may be readily removed upon disconnecting their connections with the parts 36 and 4 i. The

hook 2 may be removed at any time by removing the nut'l lwhich is normally held against rotation by the cotter pin 50. 'It will thus be seen that there is provided a load binder having a rugged construction in which all of the operating parts are protected and housed by the frame 5, and in which the operating parts are constructed and arranged in a simple-manner so that they may be readily removed and replaced if necessary. Also the housing 4, in addition to providing protection for the parts furnishing the connections to the grab hooks 2 and 3, further functions to complete the connection between such grab hooks.

While I have illustrated and described one particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration, and that various changes and modlfications may be made within the contemplation of my invention andunder the scope of the following claims. 1 v

-I claim:

1. A load binder comprising spaced connectors for imparting a binding force to the ends of a chain or the like, and meansmounting said connectors including a frame, a spring connected with one ofsaid connectors and with said frame for deflection in accordance with the binding force applied, a sprocket chain secured to the other of said connectors a sprocket -wheel journaled on saidframe" and having said chain trained thereon, ratchet mechanism for operating said wheel comprising a pawl mounted'for rectilinear movement to an operative position and having an end surface normal to its path of rectilinear movement and a ratchet tooth 'engaging side surface extending inwardly from one edge of said end'surface, said pawl end and side surfaces intersecting at an angle slightly less than a right angle, and a rotatable ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth atspaced intervals along its periphery, each of said teeth having a locking surface extending inwardly from the ratchet wheel periphery and positioned in a plane parallel to and closely adjacent to a radius of the said ratchet wheel for locking engagernent with said pawl side surface, and a camming surface intersecting with the inner edge of and normal to said locking surface for camming engagement with said pawl end surface, each of said camming surfaces intersecting the periphery of the ratchet wheel at a point closely adjacent the outer edge of the locking surface on an adjacent tooth.

2. A load binder comprising spaced connectors for imparting a binding force to the ends of a chain or the like, a housing frame having side walls positioned on opposite sides of a line extending between said connectors and a pair of end walls connecting said side walls, said end walls having openings therein aligned with said line, a connection forone of said connectors with said frame including a bolt extending through one of said openings, a collar on said bolt spaced from the end wall containing said one opening and positioned between said side walls, and a spring between said collar and said last-named end wall which is'compressible to permit movement of said collar toward said last-named end wall, and a connection for the other of said connectors comprising a shaft extending transversely of said walls, a sprocket wheel mounted on said shaft, a sprocket chain trained on said wheel and extending through the other of said openings, said sprocket chain having a connection with said other connector at a point spaced from said frame, and ratchet means for operating said sprocket wheel to decrease the distance between said connectors and thereby apply a binding force thereto comprising a pawl mounted for rectilinear movement to an operative position and having an end surface normal to its path of rectilinear movement and a ratchet tooth engaging side surface extending inwardly from one edge of said end surface, said pawl end and side surfaces intersecting at an angle slightly less than a right angle, and a rotatable ratchet wheel on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth at spaced intervals alon its periphery, each of said teeth having a locking surface extending inwardly from the ratchet wheel periphery and positioned in a plane parallel to and closely adjacent a radius of the said ratchet wheel for locking engagement with said pawl side surface, and a camming surface intersecting with the inner edge of and normal-to said locking surface for camming engagement with said pawl end surface, each of said camming surfaces intersecting the periphery of the ratchet wheel at a point closely adjacent the outer edge of the looking surface on an adjacent tooth.

THOMAS H. EDELBLUTE.

REFERENCES siren The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,844 Smith Apr. 30, 1940 

